Step 3: Baseline Survey Statistical Analysis

May 2020 – August 2020
Status: Complete

The goal of the statistical analysis is to understand how residents perceive their own wellbeing and learn what relationships exist between wellbeing variables in Collingwood Village. This page highlights our key findings for the eight wellbeing variables that were studied.

Residents’ perception of their own wellbeing

To measure each wellbeing variable, we developed a series of questions that were added to the annual satisfaction survey that residents respond to each year. Each variable was measured by no more than three questions. The following is a summary graph of how residents are rating their own wellbeing in respect to the eight wellbeing variables.

Insight: The graphs show that residents generally feel good about their sense of safety, sense of belonging, and tenure while their sense of spatial inclusion and perceived health could be improved.  The variables that need to be boosted include levels of engagement, social connectedness and resilience.  Our recommendations focus on these three wellbeing variables.

Recommendations to boost low-rated variables

As part of the analysis, we identified three low-rated variables that scored below 49% satisfaction. Our team has highlighted these variables as priorities that the Social Animator and their team can focus on. This does not mean efforts should mainly be dedicated to improving these three wellbeing variables. Rather, it means that by boosting them, residents will have a better perception of their overall wellbeing. Based on the statistical analysis’s most relevant findings, we have suggested key interventions that could help to boost the low-rated variables:

1. Engagement

Engagement generally refers to how residents were able to co-manage decisions concerning their home and community alongside operators. This was primarily a measure of how empowered residents felt in shaping various conditions of their living conditions.

Key Findings & Recommendations

We have identified four key findings and are following up with a recommendation:

  • Finding 1: Residents who are generally satisfied with the outdoor amenities offered by their building are more likely to participate in resident appreciation events. Therefore, ensure that outdoor amenities are well maintained and supportive of various uses and users.
  • Finding 2: Residents who have been living in their suite for less than a year are less likely to attend resident appreciation events. Therefore, ensure that outreach initiatives prioritize reaching out to new residents.
  • Finding 3: Residents who read newsletters are more likely to participate in the CommunityWorks program. Therefore, ensure there are different ways in which residents can have access to newsletters, and ensure there is content that attracts people with different interests to increase readership and engagement.
  • Finding 4: Residents who spend more than 40% of their income on rent are more likely to attend resident appreciation events. Therefore, ensure all events are free or low-cost to reduce financial barriers for community engagement. For people who spend more than 40% of their income in rent, offer to pay for materials (for workshops) or reduce recovery costs.

2. Social Connectedness

Social connectedness refers to the level of meaningful and casual interactions that residents have with varying scales of their community. This can include saying hello to neighbours or, ideally, making new friends with other residents in the building.

Key Findings & Recommendations

We have identified four key findings and are following up with a recommendation:

  • Finding 1: Tenants who have lived at Collingwood Village for four to 10 years are more likely to speak with neighbours. Therefore, ensure residents have access to various opportunities to talk and meet with other residents, especially for those who have lived in the building for less than four years.
  • Finding 2: Residents who feel they have no one to ask for help if they need it or report feeling lonely more often, are less likely to speak with others. This reality reflects the metaphor of the “chicken and egg.” However, the solution to this would be to encourage people to talk to each other and facilitate opportunities to connect. This will help foster trustful relationships and reduce feelings of loneliness. Therefore, design new events and outreach efforts that meet residents where they are at.
  • Finding 3: Residents who attend occasional resident appreciation events and the CommunityWorks program are more likely to talk with their neighbours. They are also more likely to have friends in the building than residents who do not participate. Therefore, encourage people to participate in resident appreciation events through broader outreach and diverse activities tailored for different age groups and interests.
  • Finding 4: Residents who report better health perception are more likely to want to get to know their neighbours better. Therefore, create opportunities in outdoor spaces for people to take part in yoga, tai chi, or qigong classes. Also consider organizing group running or walking activities in the neighbourhoods.

3. Resilience

Resilience refers to the capacity to recover quickly from difficult events or circumstances. This variable asked residents to consider their own perceived sense of resilience in the building.

Key Findings & Recommendations

We have identified four key findings and are following up with a recommendation:

  • Finding 1. People who read the semi-annual newsletters are more likely to know their neighbours well and ask them for assistance if needed. Therefore, ensure the semi-annual newsletters are interesting and have content that will attract multiple readers. For example, include images, quotes, photographs, or other creative retellings of various cultural events happening in the city.
  • Finding 2. Residents who attend resident appreciation events are more likely to know their neighbours well and ask for assistance if needed. Therefore, encourage residents to participate in resident appreciation events by including a diversity of activities that can fulfill different interests. Event durations should also be extended to ensure it can fit into residents’ schedules.
  • Finding 3. Residents that have three or more neighbours that they consider to be friends are less likely to feel lonely. Therefore, create casual, low-effort activities that can allow small groups of people with similar interests to meet and spend time together. Set a target to have two to three friends in Collingwood Village.
  • Finding 4. People who perceive themselves to be in good health are less likely to feel lonely. Therefore, provide both the space and programmatic support for activities that can help residents take care of themselves. This can include improving fitness or gym facilities and creating various fitness clubs for residents like yoga or running.

Key Takeaways to Boost Residents’ Level of Engagement, Social Connectedness, and Resilience:

  1. Invite new residents to be part of the community: Create a welcome package. Invite and encourage new residents to assist with social activities and events throughout the year.
  2. Maximize the impact of newsletters: Inspire residents to read the newsletters by including content that attracts different residents. Also include some form of community engagement or activity in the newsletter.
  3. Set a target for people to have 2-3 friends in the building: Facilitate activities that can help residents connect and spend meaningful time together. Include events that target specific age groups and interests.
  4. Encourage residents to participate in the CommunityWork program & resident appreciation events: Consider events that target different ages and interests. Expand outreach efforts to grow participation. 
  5. Provide options for people to have a healthy lifestyle: Ensure amenities are in great condition and facilitate ongoing opportunities to connect with neighbours while keeping them active.

Recommendations to keep up the good job on high-rated variables

4. Perceived Health refers to both the mental and physical condition or state of residents of Collingwood village. One way to improve perceived health would be to initiate various physical activity clubs, like running, walking, cycling, or yoga. This can help to encourage residents to be more active and healthy.

5. Spatial Inclusion means ensuring that there is safe, comfortable, and equal access to shared spaces. Spaces should also offer something of interest to residents of different interests, ages, cultural backgrounds, and abilities so that none are excluded.

6. Tenure is the amount of time an individual or a family stays in their home, building, or community. As individuals stay longer in a community, their bonds of trust and local social connections also increase.

7. Sense of Belonging means ensuring that there is safe, comfortable, and equal access to shared spaces. It is the feeling of being welcomed and at ease in a space or a community. Events that are geared specifically towards helping residents meet new people and make new friends can help to improve residents’ sense of belonging.

8. Sense of Safety refers to residents’ ability to feel comfortable without any perceptions of threats to their mental or physical wellbeing. Feeling safe is a key component in building trusting and meaningful relationships.

Key Takeaways to Maintain & Improve High-Rated Variables

  1. Encourage healthy lifestyles through physical activity: Create regular physical activity events throughout the week, including running, cycling, or yoga. Establish clear meeting times and places for these activities.  Consider activities for all age-groups.
  2. Ensure amenity spaces are in great condition: Make sure that all amenity spaces are well maintained and are flexible enough to accommodate various activities. Pay attention to media rooms, lounges, storage lockers, and bike storage.
  3. Provide barrier-free access: Ensure that common spaces have barrier-free access and flexible seating to accommodate all users.  Reducing barriers, both physical and social, will ensure that all residents can equally take part in the various activities and events in their buildings.
  4. Create welcoming and beautiful outdoor spaces: Activate courtyards through flexible seating, dynamic art and greenery to ensure that all outdoor spaces are welcoming and attractive for all to use.  Add lighting that supports night time use and ensures that residents feel safe coming home at night.
  5. Create balcony decoration contests: Encourage residents to decorate their balconies as a means of personal expression and for friendly competition.  Provide thematic suggestions and small prizes to encourage participation.

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